Tide motor



' May 12, 1925. 1,537,560

C. F. STEG TTTTTTT OR May 12,1925. 1,537,560 C. F. STEGMEIER TIDE MOTORI Filed Sept. 16. 1924' 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A u V I INVENTOR WITNCflar/esfif S/gymgzer;

ATTORNEYS Patented May 12,

UNITED STATES 1,537,560 earner oFFics.

CHARLES F. STEGMEIEB, 0F VAN NUYS, CALIFORNIA.

TIDE Moron.

Application filed September This invention relates to tide motors andaims to provide a machine of this character which generates an abundanceof power in an eflicient manner and without any material expense exceptthe initial cost of instal lation and a comparatively slight upkeep, thepresent invention convertin the natural force or energy of the rise andfall of the water into a form of power which may be readily adapted toindustrial purposes Other objects and advantages reside in certain novelfeatures of construction combination and arrangement of parts which willbe hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in theappended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specification, and in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the present invention,

Figure 2 is a view thereof in elevation, with parts shown in section forthe sake of illustration,

Figure 3 is a view in vertical section on the line 33 of Figure 2, and

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detail view partly in top plan and partly inhorizontal section showing the mounting of the lazy tongs.

Referring to the drawings wherein is shown a tide motor embodying thepresent invention the numeral 10 designates a foundation or bed ofconcrete or other suitable material in which the lower ends of piling 11are embedded and secured. The foun dation 10 is relatively heavy so thatthe piling 11 will be securely and rigidly held in position and will notbe liable to be pulled out. A rail 12, which is C-shaped in crosssection, is rigidly and securely fastened to the piles 11 and provides amounting for a lazy tongs, designated generally at 13.

The lazy tongs 13 consists of a plurality of pairs of bars 14, themembers of each pair of bars 14 being pivotally connected to each other,as at 15, intermediate the ends 16, 1924. Serial No. 738,038.

of the bars and the ends of the bars of one pair being pivotallyconnected to the adjacent ends of the bars of the adjacent pair, asindicated at 16. Atthe ends of the lazy tongs short bars 17 are providedwhich terminate at the point of their pivotalconnection to each other.

The pivot pin 15 which connects the bars of each pair of lazy tongs toeach other is extended, as indicated at 18 in Fig. 3 and arries a roller19 which travels in the guide provided by the rail 12. With thisarrangement the pivots 15 may travel along the rail 12 during theextension or contraction of the lazy tongs but these pivots 15 are constrained against vertical movement and consequently the lazy tongs as awhole cannot nove vertically although the pivots 16 thereof change theirvertical position.

The extension and contraction of the lazy tongs is controlled from afloat, designated generally at 20, the float 20 being of any suitableconstruction and having suitable air chambers or suitable ballast, asmay be required by the conditions met with in any particularinstallation. The float 20 is connected with the lazy tongs in suchmanner that the fall of the float serves to contract the lazy tongs andthe rise of the float serves to extend the same. For this purposehangers 21 depend from the lazy tongs and carry rollers 22 which operatein a guide channel 23 fixed to the top of the float and having flanges 21 which extend over the upper portion of the rollers 22, as illustratedin Fig. 3, so as to prevent the rollers from being pulled from the guidechannel 23 when the float falls. the hangers are pivotally connected tothe lower pivot 16 of the lazy tongs.

The extension and contraction of the lazy tongs may be converted into asuitable type of power or a suitable form of energy in any approvedmanner but preferably these movements of the lazy tongs are utilized forthe purpose of driving variable speed electric generators which may beequipped with pole changes similar to those employed on railway lightingsystems. In carrying out this purpose a clip 25 is pivotally connectedto each end of each lazy tong and each clip 25 is connected to one endof a cable or flexible element 26. Each flexible element 26 is trainedover a pulley or guide sheave 27 carried by a suitable support 28Preferably the upper ends of v and has an end 29 wound on a spool ordrum 30 fixed to a shaft 31 which is connected by any suitable gearingor motion transmission devices to a variable speed electric generator32. As will be understood from the drawings the cables 26 are pulledwhen the float 2O falls and the lazy tongs 13 contract and this pullingof the cables 26 will cause the ends 29 thereof to unwind from theirdrums 30, thereby rotating the drums 30 and the shafts 31 andconsequently driving the generators 32.

In order that the rise of the float and the consequent expansion orextension of' the lazy tongs may also be utilized to drive thegenerators 32 a cable or flexible element 35 is connected to each end ofthe lazy tongs. The cables 35 extend inwardly above the lazy tongs andare trained over pulleys 36 mountedon one of the piles 11 and thesecables 35 have ends 37 wound on the drums oppositely with respect to thewinding of the ends 29 of the cables.%, With this arrangement althoughthe cables are pulled in an opposite direction from that in which thecables 26 are pulled nevertheless these cables 35 rotate the drums 30 inthe same direction as the cables 26 rotate these drums.

Although the power generator or tide motor is especialy adapted for usein tide water where the rise and fall of the tides produce acorresponding movement of the float 20 and a consequent actuation of thegenerators 32, the motor is also adapted for use in conjunction with theinland rivers, a basin being provided for the float, the floatcontrolling the filling and emptying of the basin from and into theriver. It is to be noted that with the present invention it is notnecessary to construct big dams or to develop high water pressure.

'It is to be understood that during lapse or change of tide power istaken from the battery station equipped with modern installments such asautomatic cut-ins and automatic cut-outs to insure a continuous service.It is to be understood that the batteries of the station may beelectrically connected with the generators or dynamos and suitablearrangements made for charging of the batteries and discharging from thesame at the proper time.

I claim: 7

1. In a motor of the character described including a support, lazy tongsmounted on the support, a float connecting with the lazy tongs, powergenerating devices, and motion transmission means between the lazy tongsand the power generating devicesand comprising cables connected with theends of the lazy tongs, guide pulleys for said cables, and drums uponwhich the cables are wound, there being two cables connected to each endof the lazy tongs and two cables wound on each drum,each drum having itscables oppositely wound.

2. In a motor of the character described,

asupport, horizontally extensible and contractable lazy tongs mounted onthe sup port, a float, a guide channel mounted on the float and havingflanges, hangers depending from the lazy tongs and having rollersoperating in the guide channel and confined therein by the flanges ofsaid channel, and means for converting the extension and contraction ofthe lazy tongs into power.

CHAS. F. STEGMEIER.

